Portland Adoption and Foster Care Resources

Whether you are considering adopting a child or placing your baby for adoption in Portland, Maine, there are many local resources available to you. The following provides information about local adoption agencies, home study providers and other adoption and foster care services in Portland.

Additional resources for expectant mothers and adoptive parents throughout the state can be found on our adoption in Maine page.

Portland Adoption Agencies and Adoption Professionals

Whether you are ready to begin the adoption process or still need more adoption information, adoption professionals can often provide the services and support you need. The following adoption agencies are located in Portland and are experienced in meeting the needs of adoptive and birth parents in Maine:

Become a Foster Parent in Portland

If you are interesting in adopting an older child or becoming a foster parent in Portland, you will need to meet the requirements for foster parents in Maine and complete the home study process. For information about foster care and foster adoption in Portland and throughout the rest of the state, visit our Maine adoption page.

These agencies and organizations can also provide additional information and help you get started as a foster parent in the Portland area:

Completing the Home Study in Portland

The home study is a major component of every adoption and foster placement, and home study requirements are determined by state adoption laws. Information about Maine home study requirements, qualifications and approval is included with our Maine adoption information.

When you are ready to begin the home study process, contact any of these legally qualified home study providers in the Portland area:

Acadia Adoption Center207-267-8110
Acadia Adoption Center is a licensed adoption agency assisting families with both international and domestic home studies and adoptions.

Families and Children Together207-941-2347
FACT provides home studies and post-placement services for families working with an out-of-state agency or adopting a child from Maine’s child welfare system.

Adoption Partners of Maine888-635-6935
Adoption Partners offers home study services to families entering its infant placement program and those contracted with another placing agency.

Hospitals in Portland

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and making an adoption plan for your baby, you will have the opportunity to make many important choices throughout the adoption process, including complete control over your hospital stay. You will create a hospital plan that outlines all of your preferences for your labor and delivery.

The hospital will be aware of your plan ahead of time to ensure a smooth labor and delivery process. When you are ready to make your hospital plan, here are some Portland area hospitals that you may be working with:

Adoption Laws and Qualifications

Hopeful adoptive parents and pregnant women considering adoption in Portland commonly have questions about local adoption laws, qualifications and processes. Adoption laws are determined by the state and can be found on our Maine adoption information page. Below is an overview of some of the types of laws and regulations impacting adoptive and birth parents in Portland.

For Birth Parents

Birth parents often have questions about the laws for placing a baby for adoption in Portland. Information about consent and relinquishment, as well as birth father rights and other important adoption information, can be found here.

For Adoptive Families

There are certain eligibility requirements prospective parents must meet before fostering or adopting a child in Maine. State laws also impact other areas of the adoption, including expenses that may be paid, finalization requirements, and more. These laws for adoptive families are available on our How to Adopt in Maine page.

County Courts

The final step in the legal adoption process is finalization. If you are finalizing your adoption in Portland, Maine, find your local courthouse and other information about finalizing your adoption in Cumberland County.

Things to do in Portland

If you are adopting in Portland from out of state, you may end up spending some time in Maine, either visiting prospective birth parents or waiting for ICPC paperwork to be processed. Should your adoption plans bring you to Maine, consider visiting the following Portland attractions during your stay: